Appliance for protecting oil-wells from fires.



No. 695.278. Patented Mar. Il, i902.

J. M. COCHRAN.

APPLIANGE FUR PHUTEGTING OIL WELLS FROM FIRES.

(Application med Nov. 23, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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NrTjnn Serres Arnia JAMES M. ceci-IRAN, or eenen, TEXAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of `Letters Patent No. 695,278, dated March11, 1902.

Application filed November 23, 1901. Serial No. 83,454. (No model.)

.T0 (LZZ 'Lu/72.0711, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. COCHRAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gober, in the county of Fannin and State of Texas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Appliances for Protecting Oil-Tells from Fires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and.

useful improvements in appliances for protecting oil-wells from fires;and to this end it consists of the novel' combination and arrangement ofparts hereinafter more specifically described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and particularly pointed ont in the claimshereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, whereinlike numerals of reference indicate corrosponding parts throughout theseveral views, and in Which- Figure l is a sectional elevation of theappliance used in connection with an oil-Well to protect the same fromfires, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View showing the arrangement ofthe inclosing shell or casing surrounding the upper portion of theoil-Well pipe or casing, also the water-supply pipes for the shell orcasing and the operating means for the oil cut-off valve. Fig. 3illustrates a modified form of oil-well pipe .or casing extending abovethe tank and the latter filled with earth to near the cut-off valve forthe oil pipe'or casing to inclose a portion of the watersupply pipes andthe oil-well pipe or casing, thewepver for the tank dispensed with.

Referring to the drawings by reference-n umerals, lv denotes theoil-well pipe or casing, which extends asuitable distance above theearths surface 2 and is provided in that portion which extends above theearths surface with an oil-eut-off valve 3. As stated above, the pipeoreasing 1 projects above the earths surface any desirable distance, andthe cutoff valve is arranged 'therein so that it will always be abovethe earths surface and preferably not at the outer end of the pipe orcasing l. Y Y

The numeral/4 denotes a shell, casing, or tank with an open upper endand closed bottom, this bottom being preferably constructed of cement.The shell, casing, or tank 4, suitably projects above and extends belowthe earths surface 2 and is adapted to be arranged at the upper portionof the pipe or casing l and to receive a supply of water for surroundingthe pipe or casing l to protect it from lire.

The reference-numeral 5 denotes an outlet for the tank 4, projectingabove the earths surface; but this outlet may be dispensed with, ifdesired, and the water exhausted from the tank in any desirable manner.

The reference-numeral (i denotes a quantity of earth placed Within theshell .4.

The shell, as before stated, extends above and below the earths surface,or, in other words, it preferably extends about two feet into the earthin order to hold it firmly in place. The bottom of the shell ispreferably constructed of cement, so that it will not crack or hefractured if it should be jarred. The shell or tank is filled with aquantity of earth to a level with the surface ofthe earth, so that thewater can be drained olf when desired, and, furthermore, the placing ofthe .earth Within the shell materially assists in firmly holding it inits place.

The tank 4 is provided with a cover '7 for closing it and also toinclose the upper part of the pipe or casing therein when the supply ofoil is cut off through the medium of the cut-off valve 3, thelatterbeing manually operated by the rod S. The latter is to extend fromabout six to twelve inches above the eut-off valve in order that thevalve can be covered with water which extends within the tank or shell.The valve then being six to twelve inches under Water will be out ofdanger from re. Water in the tank would not be necessary except when thewell was not in use and when in danger of fire. When it is necessary touse the valve, the water is drained off, and when out of use or at restthe water is turned on. The portion of the tank 4c projecting above theearths surface, as well as the cover 7, is adapted to be inelosed by asuitable protective covering 9- for example, an earth mound or othersuitable means-to protect the tank from fire. The cover or lid With aprotective cover is to be used only while the well is not running, whichin many cases may be weeks or months.

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through the tank 4 and is connected to awa-- ter-reservoir 12, arrangeda suitable distance from the well. This reservoir is supported upon thestandards 13, so that the water will have a sufficient fall. The wateris fed to the pipe or casing 1 above the cut-off valve 2 for forcing theoil from that portion of the pipe above t-he valve 3 and also storingwater in this portion of the pipe to prevent the entrance of any flame,spark, or other matter which may cause to ignite the oil or explode thewell. At the same time if it should be possible that the oil as itleaves the pipe or casing 1 is ignited or on fire the water will tend toforce the oil from the pipe, so that the fire will die out. Of course itwill be evident that the valve 3 is closed. The reservoir 12 andstandards 13 may be constructed of any suitable material, preferably ofiron if they are near the well. The pipe 1l is provided with a suitablecut-off 14, so that the supply of water to the pipe or casing 1 can beregulated. The water is fed to the tank 4 by Vmeans of a supply-pipe 15,which communicateswith the reservoir 12 and which is' also providedwitha cut-off 16 for regulating the supply of water to the tank 4. Thepipes 1l 15 a portion of their length extend downward from the reservoir12 to beneath the earths surface and then in a longitudinal mannertoward the tank 4 and pipe or casing 1. AThe longitudinally-extendingportion of the pipes 1l and 15 is generally arranged underground,although the same may extend alongthe surface of the earth when desired.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the oil pipe or casing projectsabove the tank 4, as at '1.7, and a suitable quantity of earth is placedwithin the tank 4, as at 6, to inclose a portion of the oil pipe orcasing l and the pipes 11 and 12; otherwise the structure shown in Fig.3 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the samereference-numerals being applied thereto, with the further exceptionAthat the cover 7 is preferably formed in two sections or with anopening on account of the extension of the oil-pipe.

The following advantages are obtained from the construction hereinbeforeset forth: First, if the oil-well is on fire water can be turned on fromthe water-valves on the water-pipes at the reservoir and the fireextinguished, for the reservoir is out of reach of the tire; second, ifthe oil-pipe extends high above the earth the pipe can be filled withwater by turning on the water from the reservoir; third, the tank can befilled with Water while a fire is raging, and if the oil-pipe is shortenough the fire will be extinguished; fourth,

thus the Well can be kept in a state of safety both while running oiland Whileat rest; fifth, the earth mound will furnish additionalprotection from heat;- sixth, in the Beaumont oil-field the lots arevery small and owned by different companies, audit might be difficult toextend a conduit over-the limits of alot, as in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 79,586, tiled October 22, 1901; seventh, thismethod will cost very little; eighth, above all other things it will bea perfect remedy against tire, and if properly handled it will serve thepurpose of extinguishing a firewhile burning in all its force; ninth, itmay suit some wells better than the underground method givenl in mycopending application, Serial No. 79,586, tiled-October 22, 1901.

It is thought the foregoing advantages can be readily understood fromthe foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanyingdrawings, and it will also be noted that minor changes may be made inthe details `of construction without departing from the general spiritof my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is Y 1. vIn an appliance forprotectingoil-wells,

the combination with the oil-well pipe or cas- Y ing, of a Water-tanksurrounding the upper said tank, a reservoir, and suitable connectionsbetween the said reservoir and the tank and oil-Well pipe or casing.

2. In an appliance for protecting oil-wells from fire, the combinationwith the oil-Well pipe or casing, a water-tank surrounding the upperportion of said pipe or casing and adapted to extend below and projectabove the earths surface, a protective covering for the said tank, areservoir, a pipe connection between the reservoir and the said oil-wellpipe or casing, and a pipe connection between the reservoir and the saidtank.

3. In an appliance for protecting oil-wells from fire, the combinationwith the oil-well pipe or casing, of a water-tank adapted to surroundthe upper portion ofesaid pipe or casing, and a protective covering forthe said tank.

4. In an appliance for protecting oil-wells fromiires, the combinationwith an oiljvell pipe or casing and a cut-off valve suitably arrangedtherein, of a tank surrounding the upper portion of said oil-Well pipeor casing, means for supplying water to the said tank, and means forsupplying water to the pipe or casing above the cut-off valve.

5. In an appliance for protecting oil-wells from fires, the combinationwith an oil-well pipe or casing and a cut-off valve suitably'ar rangedtherein, of a tank surrounding the upper portion of said oil-well pipeor casing, means for supplying water to the said tank, means forsupplying water to the pipe or casing above the cut-off valve, and aprotective covering for the said tank.

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6. In an appliance for protecting oil-Wells i from iires, thecombination With the oil-Well pipe or casing, of a tank surrounding theupper portion thereof, and means for supplying Water to the said tank.

7. In an appliance for protecting oil-wells from lires, the combinationwith the oil-Well pipe or casing, of a tank surrounding the upperportion thereof, `means for supplying water to the said tank, and aprotective covering for the said tank.

S. In an appliance for protecting oil-wells `from ires, the combinationwith the oil-Well pipe or casing, of a Water-tank suitably surrounding aportion of the pipe or casing, a cover for the said tank, means forsupplying Water to the said tank, and a protective covering for the saidtank.

9. In an appliance for protecting oil-Wells from lires, the combinationwith the oil-Well pipe or casing, ot a tank suitably surrounding aportion of the pipe or casing, means for supplying Water to the tank,and a protective covering for the tank.

l0. In an appliance for protecting oil-Wells from tires, the combinationwith the oil-Well pipe or casing, of a tank suitably surrounding aportion of the said pipe or casing, a cutoff valve connected to saidpipe or easing, means for suitably supplying Water to said pipeorcasing, and means for suitably supplying Water to the said tank.

1l. In combination, an oil-well pipe or casing, a cut-ott' valvearranged therein, a protecting means surrounding the upper portion ofsaid pipe and in which is mounted the said valve, and means for suitablysupplying Water to said protecting means and said pipe.

l2. In au appliance for protecting oil-wells from fires, the combinationwith the oil-Well pipe or casing, of Va protecting means surrounding theupper portion of said pipe, and means for supplying Water to the saidprotecting means.

13. In an appliance for protecting oil-Wells from iires, the combinationwith the oil-Well pipe or casing, of a protecting means surrounding theupper portion of said pipe, and a quantity of earth Within the saidprotecting means.

14. In combination, an oil-Well pipe or casing, a cut-off valve arrangedtherein, a protecting means surrounding a portion of said pipe, meansfor suitably supplying water to said protecting means in said pipe, anda quantity of earth arranged Within the protecting means.

l5. In combination, an oil-Well pipe or casing, a cut-off valvetherefor, a shell surrounding a portion of the pipe, means for supplyingWater to the pipe and shell, a protective covering for the shell, and aquantity of earth mounted Within the shell.

1G. In an appliance for protecting oil-Wells from fires. the combinationwith an oil-Well pipe or casing, of a shell surrounding the same, aprotective covering for the shell, and a quantity of earth suitablyarranged Within the shell.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses. l

JAMES M. COCHRAN.

Witnesses:

C. P. MCWHIRTER, JNO. P. KNIGHT.

